Materials World Network Cooperative Activity in Materials Research between US Investigators and their Counterparts Abroad | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity titled "Materials World Network Cooperative Activity in Materials Research between US Investigators and their Counterparts Abroad" is designed to strengthen international research partnerships in fundamental materials science and condensed matter research. The program is built around the idea that major advances in materials research increasingly depend on cross-disciplinary teamwork and coordinated collaboration not only within the United States, but also across borders, especially as the global economy and research enterprise become more interconnected. Through this solicitation, NSF works jointly with counterpart national, regional, and multinational funding organizations around the world to expand opportunities for US-based researchers to conduct collaborative research and education activities with colleagues abroad. The solicitation explicitly includes joint activities involving partner organizations in Africa, the Americas (including efforts organized through the Inter-American Materials Collaboration, CIAM), Asia, and Europe.

A central requirement is that any proposal submitted to NSF must clearly fall within the research scope of NSF's Division of Materials Research (DMR). Proposals are reviewed in the context of DMR program areas, which include condensed matter physics; solid state and materials chemistry; polymers; biomaterials; metallic materials and nanostructures; ceramics; electronic and photonic materials; and condensed matter and materials theory. Proposals that do not align with DMR priorities are not simply scored poorly; they are considered inappropriate for DMR and may be returned without review. In practice, this means applicants need to frame the research goals, methods, and expected outcomes in a way that directly fits DMR-supported topics and demonstrates clear intellectual alignment with one or more of these program areas.

Eligibility is limited to US academic institutions. Only accredited two-year and four-year colleges and universities (including community colleges) with a campus located in the United States may submit proposals, and they must submit on behalf of faculty members. The principal investigator (PI) and any co-principal investigators must hold positions at eligible US institutions. NSF will not accept proposals submitted by investigators at non-US institutions, even if the research is highly collaborative. The funding model is coordinated but separate: the US team applies to NSF for support of the US side of the project, while the non-US collaborators are expected to submit a parallel request for their portion of the work to the appropriate funding organization in their own country or region. NSF indicates it will consider supporting all appropriate research costs for the US participants, with the expectation that partner funding organizations will consider covering the costs incurred by the international participants. This structure is meant to enable true co-led international projects while keeping each side funded by its home agency.

The solicitation emphasizes that projects should do more than simply involve international coauthors; they are expected to demonstrate the "value added" of the international collaboration. That typically means showing why the work is stronger, faster, more rigorous, or uniquely possible because of the partnership, such as access to specialized facilities, complementary expertise, distinctive materials synthesis or characterization capabilities, shared data resources, or coordinated theory-experiment efforts across institutions. In addition to research, the program places strong weight on integrating research and education in an international context. Projects are expected to create meaningful opportunities for students and early-career researchers to participate in international research and education experiences, such as exchanges, joint training, co-supervision, or structured collaboration that builds globally fluent researchers.

Broadening participation is also an explicit expectation. Proposals are expected to address inclusion of underrepresented groups in science and engineering, including women, minorities, and persons with disabilities. While the solicitation text does not prescribe a single approach, it signals that applicants should incorporate thoughtful plans to expand participation, for example through inclusive recruitment of students, mentorship structures, accessible international training opportunities, and partnerships that widen pathways into materials research.

From a funding and administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant program in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category. The opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number 10-588, NSF Publication 10-588) anticipated about 40 awards, with an estimated total program funding level of $4,500,000. Individual award amounts were expected to fall between an award floor of $200,000 and an award ceiling of $1,000,000. No cost sharing or matching requirement was listed. The CFDA number associated with the solicitation is 47.049 (Mathematical and Physical Sciences). The posting date and creation date were July 27, 2010, with a full proposal deadline of November 10, 2010 (original and current closing dates both listed as November 10, 2010).

For practical access and support, NSF points applicants to the full announcement (NSF Publication 10-588) and provides an email contact for technical issues accessing the announcement through Grants.gov: grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.

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